Upper Chesapeake Health to open cancer center

The Kaufman Cancer Center, located on the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center campus in Bel Air, opened to patients on Monday, October 7, 2013.

October 10, 2013 |

KLMK Group

KLMK Group, Inc. (KLMK), a preferred provider of healthcare planning and facility related advisory solutions, and Upper Chesapeake Health (UCH) are pleased to announce the opening of the new Patricia D. and M. Scot Kaufman Cancer Center. The Kaufman Cancer Center, located on the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center campus in Bel Air, opened to patients on Monday, October 7, 2013.

On February 15, 2011, UCH broke ground on a $61 Million Cancer Center. The 75,259 sf expansion features new outpatient exam rooms, minor procedure rooms, and support spaces. The state of the art facility also offers the Varian TrueBeam Linear Accelerator and CT Simulator technology, as well as Healing Gardens on both floors.

There are over 1,250 new cancer diagnoses a year in Harford County, Maryland alone. Therefore, there is a great need for a cancer center for the surrounding community. UCH wanted to offer its patients, their families and the community access to a convenient, high quality cancer center. On average, a cancer patient will make more than 100 medical visits within the first year of their diagnosis. The stress that encompasses a person diagnosed with cancer and their family is tremendous. It’s very important that patients have the opportunity to be properly treated without having to commute long distances.

“For years in Harford County, we’ve continued to expand our cancer services offerings, but we’ve never had all of the elements of the care, the delivery, the treatment, and the diagnosis here in one location,” said Lyle Sheldon, FACHE, president and CEO of Upper Chesapeake Health. “Historically, people have had to go outside of the county for those services.”

UCH created a cancer center that is patient focused in all aspects. Bringing all elements of cancer care together to a single location in order to make a difference in patient’s lives, give them hope, healing and services close to home.

The Kaufman Cancer Center is affiliated with the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center (UMGCC), one of a select group of cancer centers in the nation with a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation. The partnership allows the Kaufman Cancer Center to provide residents of Harford and Cecil counties with access to the best of cancer care in a centralized location.

“The University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center is one of the best in the country,” stated Navesh Sharma, DO, PhD, medical director of radiation oncology at the Kaufman Cancer Center and an assistant professor of radiation oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “Our physics, dosimetry, and therapist teams—all a part of the University of Maryland—will continue to bring that quality assurance into the Kaufman Cancer Center.”

KLMK served as the Owner’s Representative and provided Project Launch and Project Management services throughout the duration of the project. Services included; Launch Gap Analysis (LGA), Project Launch, Project Implementation Plan, Master Budget/Schedule Development and Management, Contract Development and Negotiations, and Activation/Transition Planning and Management.

“It has been an honor for KLMK to be a part of the Cancer Center project. This is something that is much needed in Harford County. It’s so rewarding to watch it grow from concept to completion and to see how it’s already positively affecting the surrounding community,” stated Patrick Duke, Senior Vice President.

KLMK Group, Inc. (KLMK) is a preferred provider of innovative solutions focused on the continuous improvement of the healthcare facility development process. The firm provides independent, objective and professional advice to owners involved in the planning, launch, management, and activation of new facilities and capital projects. With offices in Richmond, VA; Atlanta, GA; Birmingham, AL; St. Louis, MO; Houston and Dallas, TX; KLMK challenges clients and industry partners to embrace new models of care delivery that provide efficient and flexible alternatives for future growth. For more information on KLMK Group, visit www.klmkgroup.com.

Upper Chesapeake Health - Established in 1984, Upper Chesapeake Health is a not-for-profit health organization based in Harford County. The organization owns and operates Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, Harford Memorial Hospital and Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation and is an affiliate partner with the University of Maryland Medical System. One of the largest private employers in Harford County, Upper Chesapeake employs almost 3,000 team members. Visit www.uchs.org to learn more. To learn more about the Kaufman Cancer Center, visit www.uchcancer.org.